Golf club stand



H. STEELE GOLF CLUB STAND Jilly 4, 1961 Filed Jan. 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice Patented July 4, 1961 2,990,865 GOLF CLUB STAND Homer Steele, 445 Winchester Ave, Ashland,

Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 784,537 3 Claims. (Cl. 150--1.5)

This invention relates generally to a device for holding golf clubs and more particularly to a portable device adapted to retain a plurality of golf clubs for facilitating carrying golf equipment around a golf course.

conventionally, golfers utilize a minimum of six golf clubs, and generally carry the golf clubs in a heavy golf bag adapted to be slung over the shoulder. A golfer will generally hire a caddy to tote the golf club bag about the course. However, caddies are often unavailable and even when available,- are expensive. Accordingly, recently numerous devices have been developed for conveniently holding golf clubs which are significantly more portable and less expensive than conventional golf bags. The devices developed to dateall have certain shortcomings which have proved to be highly undesirable. Therefore, the applicant has developed a novel and improved device for retaining golf clubs which is highly reliable and easily portable.-

The principal object of this invention is to provide a portable device for retaining golf clubs.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for retaining golf clubs which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, light, and durable.

In accordance with the above stated objects, below is particularly described a novel and improved device for retaining the golf clubs which comprises a frame including spaced opposed A-portions connected by a handle member. Fixed to the depending legs on the A-portions are a plurality of superposed pairs of spaced horizontally aligned clamps which are adapted to securely retain horizontally positioned golf clubs therein. Each of the A-portions includes a cross member which acts to maintain the spacing between the depending legs. The cross member, while acting as a brace for the frame, further provides a V-shaped cavity for conveniently accommodating golf balls. The clamps supported on the depending legs of the frame are constructed of thin resilient metal and are particularly designed to securely grip the golf clubs and to easily release the golf clubs upon depression of a portion of the clamp.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent residein the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device comprising this invention illustrating the manner in which the device supports the golf clubs (shown in dotted lines);

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of 33 of FIGURE 1.

With continuing reference to the drawings and initial reference to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that numeral generally represents the device comprising this invention including -a frame 12 having a first A-portion 14 and a second A-portion 16. It is contemplated that the frame 12 be constructed of aluminum tubing to make the device light and portable, but, however of course, the utilization of any desirable material will fall within the teachings hereinafter disclosed.

The A-portion 14 includes a first depending leg 18 and a second depending leg 20 which are joined at the apex 22 of the A-portion. It will be noted that the de pending legs 18 and 20 include vertical terminal portions 24 and 26. Secured to the terminal portions 24 and 26 are rubber shoes 28 and 30 which provide a better frictional grip between the device 10 and the ground 32. Likewise, the A-portion 16 includes legs 34 and 36 having vertical terminal portions 38 and 40 and rubber shoes 42 and 44 secured thereto. Connecting the A-portions 14 and 16 is a handle member 46 which actually is merely an extension of the depending legs of the respective A- portions. It is contemplated that any form of gripping material as at 48 be utilized about the handle member 46 for facilitating the portability and mobility of the device 10.

Pairs of horizontally aligned clamps 50 are supported on opposed legs, as at 34 and 18, of the opposed A-portions 14 and 16. As will be apparent in FIGURE 1, the device 10 is adapted to accommodate eight golf clubs 52. It will be notedthat the clamps 50 are superposed on each of the depending legs 18, 20, 34 and 36. Pairticularly referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that each of the clamps 50 includes a first straight section 53, a second straight section 54 perpendicularly extending outwardly from the first straight section 53, inwardly extending arcuate section 56, and an outwardly angularly extending straight section 58. A rivet secures the sec tion 53 to the depending leg. The clamps of course are made of thin resilient metal, preferably, but if desired, may be manufactured of a resilient plastic or such. The particular constructional features of the clamp is im' portant. The outwardly extending portion 58 enables the golf clubs 52 to be easily inserted within the arcuate clamp section 56'. Further, it will be apparent that the club 52 may be easily removed from retention by the clamp 50 by simply vertically raising the club 52.

Also to be noted in FIGURE 2, is the utilization of a utility container 62 which is supported between the opposed portions of the handle member 46. A pin 64 passes through a flange on the utility compartment 62 and the handle members 46 so as to secure the utility compartment 62 and handle member portions together.

Each of the A-portions 14 and 16, further includes a cross member 66 and 68 respectively. The cross members 66 and 68 serve a dual function. Initially, it will be noted that each of the cross members includes an elliptical wire 70 which encircles and includes the depending legs 18 and 20. Fixed to the side surfaces of elliptical wire 70, as by welding, are a pair of inserted U-shaped wires 72 and 74 which are positioned so that the legs of the U-shaped members 72 and 74 converge to form a V-shaped cavity above the elliptical wire 70. As is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the V-shaped cavity formed between the U-shaped members 72 and 74, and the elliptical wire 70 are adapted to accommodate a golf ball 76 or a plurality of golf balls. Further, it should be apparent that the cross members 66 and 68 serve to rigidify the frame 12 in that they maintain the desired spacing between the depending legs 18 and 20. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, adjacent pairs of legs at each end of the U-shaped members converge in a downward direction so that their lower ends contact one another and the inner surface of the lower vertical terminal portions of the depending legs 18, 20, 34 and 36. By having the lower ends of the legs of the U-shaped members contact the inner surfaces of the legs of the A-frames, the legs comprising each A-frarne are prevented from moving toward each other. As can be seen by an inspection of FIGURE 3, it is necessary to have the legs of the U-shaped members converge in order for their ends to project between and prevent inward movement of the A-frame legs. If the legs of the U-shaped members were vertical, they could not contact the legs of the A-frames, and the A- frame legs could move freely inwardly between the legs of the U-frames. It is to be noted that the elliptical wire 70 prevents the depending legs 18 and 20 from spreading while the legs of the U-shaped members 72 and 74 impede the depending legs 18 and 20 so as to prevent them from approaching each other.

In the utilization of this device, a golfer may secure golf clubs 52 in the superposed clamp pairs, and carry the device about the golf course by grasping the covering 48 about the handle member 46. The utility compartment 62 is adapted to conveniently hold tees and cigarettes While the cross members 66 and 68 provide V- shaped cavities for conveniently accommodating golf balls. Since the device 10 is supported on four legs, it is not easily tipped over and may often be utilized on relatively steep slopes where the shoes frictionally engage the ground. Though it is contemplated that the device be constructed of aluminum so as to eliminate any unnecessary weight, it is further contemplated that the device be perfectly balanced so as to render it extremely easily portable. Of course, it should also be apparent to a golfer that since the clubs are exposed, he will always have the proper club immediately at hand and will not have to hunt for the correct number.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for retaining golf equipment comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of spaced, horizontally aligned clamps carried by said frame, each pair of said plurality of clamp pairs adapted to securely retain a horizontally positioned golf club, said frame including a first A-portion, a second A-portion, said first and second A-portions being opposed and connected by a handle, each of said A-portions including a first depending leg, a second depending leg, and a cross member, each pair of said plurality of clamp pairs including a first clamp and a second clamp, said first clamp carried by a depending leg on said first A-portion, said second clamp carried by an opposed depending leg on said second .A-portion, said cross member defining at least one aperture therein receiving said depending legs therethrough and including means preventing said depending leg portions from spreading or closing, said cross member including a V-shaped cavity for accommodating golf balls.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each clamp includes a straight firstsection, a straight second section extending perpendicularly outward from said first section, an arcuate third section extending inwardly from said second section and a straight fourth section extending angularly outward from said third section, said first section fixed to one of said depending legs.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first depending legs are parallel to each other and the second depending legs are parallel to each other, said handle comprises two parallel members connected in side-by-side relationship, each end of one of said parallel members being integrally connected to an upper end of one of said first depending legs and each end of the other of said parallel members being integrally connected to an upper end of one of said second depending legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 164,503 Kerr Sept. 11, 1951 453,969 Flack June 9, 1891 2,002,128 Reidenbaugh May 21, 1935 2,047,079 MacMurray July 7, 1936 2,059,445 Eastman Nov. 3, 1936 2,465,096 Hunt Mar. 22, 1949 2,737,990 DeMarco Mar. 13, 1956 

